The club took the players it sought, recouped some financial resources and took significant steps toward completing its build of the 2019 roster as it added five total players over two rounds of drafting.

Each player FC Cincinnati selected was described by team personnel as a "project," but the sum total of the day's work was a promising injection of youth talent into the organization.

Friday's SuperDraft also featured some early drama as Cincinnati haggled with Los Angeles Football Club in full public view, nearly trading away the No. 1 overall pick.

FC Cincinnati also used two draft picks on goalkeepers. That more than likely concluded its work at that position, the club said.

Jimmy Hague holds up his jersey for a photograph after being drafted by FC Cincinnati as the second round of the MLS Superdraft on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Albert Cesare / The Enquirer

FC Cincinnati manager Alan Koch talks before trading away the 16th pick of the first round and the first pick of the 2nd round during the MLS Superdraft on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Albert Cesare / The Enquirer

Cincinnati fans signal a time out as FC Cincinnati takes a timeout in the first pick of the first round of the MLS Superdraft on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Albert Cesare / The Enquirer

FC Cincinnati manager Alan Koch talks before trading away the 16th pick of the first round and the first pick of the 2nd round during the MLS Superdraft on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Albert Cesare / The Enquirer

After electing to keep the No. 1 overall pick, FC Cincinnati selected highly rated UCLA midfielder Frankie Amaya. Amaya is a member of the U.S. Under-20 national team and could see his value skyrocket at the U-20 World Cup in Poland next summer.

"He (Amaya) was the best player available," FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding said. "He's a terrific player. He's a great character. We're thrilled to have him."

Of the club's decision to turn away from the bargaining table with LAFC and possibly trade the No. 1 pick away, Berding said the club's valuation of the top pick was "quite high."

"This is a unique opportunity for us – a brand-new club – and with a terrific player in Frankie," Berding added, "and for us it was a very easy pick."

"Honestly, I just can't wait to get started. So many emotions are going through my head," Amaya told The Enquirer. "My heart is beating as fast as possible and it's a good thing I'm sitting down because I can't feel my legs. It's definitely overwhelming, being the first pick especially, but just being drafted gives you so much emotion."

The additions of Hague and Lundt likely marked the end of the club's work on the goalkeeper position for 2019, head coach Alan Koch said.

"There's lots we liked about both of them," goalkeeping coach Jack Stern said. "Jimmy, he has a really good all-around game. Performed well at the Combine and has played well all year. He was someone we were aware of and was always on our radar. We think he's going to come in and have a really hard-working, fantastic attitude ...

"With Ben, we just see a huge upside. Both of them are physically commanding. Both of them fit the profile that we look for in a goalkeeper."

Hague and Lundt join a goalkeeping group that already includes projected starter Przemyslaw Tytoń and projected backup Spencer Richey.

All told, FC Cincinnati moved considerably closer to finishing its offseason personnel work, although it's still lacking a few key pieces.

"What we wanted to get out of today was obviously address the goalkeeping situation in our club," Koch said. "We're very comfortable that we actually did that today. We wanted to get some quality projects. We use the word 'project' all the time, but there are players in this draft we think are projects. We feel very happy with the guys we picked. These are guys we're excited to work with and we're excited to push them and see how far we can take them."